Religion Corner: The Spirit Of Eid Ul Fitr

(JollofNews) – Ibn Abbaas (RA) said he heard the Prophet (SAW) say: “In the morning of Eid, Allah sends down the angels to all the lands of the earth where they take their positions at access points of roads, calling out with a voice that is heard by all except men and jinns:

“O Ummah of Muhammad (SAW) come forth from your houses towards a Lord that is noble and gracious, Who grants much and pardons the major sins.”

When they proceed towards the praying ground for their Eid prayers, Allah says to the Angels: “What is indeed the reward of that employee who had rendered his services?”

The Angels replies: “O Lord and Master, it is only right that he should receive his reward in full for his services.”

Allah then says, “I call you to witness, O my Angels, that for their having fasted during the month of Ramadan, and for them having stood before me in Laylatul Qadr, I have granted to them as reward My pleasure and have granted to them forgiveness. O My servants ask now of Me, for I swear by My Honour and My Greatness, that whatsoever you shall beg of Me this day in this assembly, of yours for the needs of the Hearafter, I shall grant you; and whatsoever you shall ask for worldly needs, I shall look at you favourably. By My Honour, I swear, as long as you shall obey My commands, I shall cover your faults. By My Honour and My Greatness do I swear that I shall never disgrace you among the evil-doing ones and disbelievers. Depart now from here, you are forgiven. You have pleased me and I am pleased with you. The Angels on seeing this great reward bestowed by Allah upon the Ummah of Muhammad (SAW) on the day of Eid ul Fitr becomes greatly pleased and happy.”

A few points need attention. We see here that there are a few people who are deprived of forgiveness in Ramadan and are unfortunate indeed for not being able to share the great gifts of Allah on the morning of Eid among them are those who fight and argue among themselves and those disobedient to their parents.

Let us put one question to them: “You have displeased Allah and having done so, what other refuge do you have besides Allah?” We feel indeed sad that for some reason or other you have made yourselves the target for the curse of Allah, His Rasool S.W. and Jibraeel A.S. while at the same excluded from Allah’s freely granted forgiveness. Who else can grant you refuge? Who and what can stand by your side when you carry the curse of Rasulullah (SW)?

Who can help you when Allah’s close angel Jibraeel (AS) has made duaa’ against you? While Allah is excluding you for His forgiveness and mercy. I implore you my dear brother (and sister) think about your position at this moment.

Think and desist from all that draws you away from Allah. There is time to repair and repent and now is that time. Tomorrow you shall have to stand before a Judge before whom no rank, honour, position and wealth shall avail you. A Judge before whom only actions shall account and Who is indeed aware of our every movement. Remember that Allah may forgive our faults as far as our relationship with Him is concerned, but will not forgive without penalty our faults in our relations with our fellowmen.

Rasulullah (SW) said, “The bankrupt one from among my Ummah is that person, who shall appear on the day of Qiyaamah, bringing with him righteous deeds like ‘salaah, sawn (fast) and charity. However he had also sworn at someone, falsely accused someone else and hurt someone, with the result that all these people shall come forward with the action against him, bearing witness against him.

As a penalty, his good deeds shall be taken away and granted to the afflicted ones, and when his good deeds shall come to an end, in this manner, their sins shall be thrown upon him (when he is not able to pay the full penalty through lack of good deeds). Hence, in this manner he shall enter Jahannam’. So we see inspite of many good deeds his regret and sorry state is beyond description. (O Allah save us from that).

Allah says that He shall not disgrace and humiliate those who performed their duties in front of (and among) the unbelievers and evil doers. This is the enormous extent of Allah’s grace and kindness and also the regard Allah shows for the status of the muslims. In addition for those who sought Allah’s pleasure another of His blessing and favour is that their faults and sins on this occasion will also be covered.

Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) reports that Rasulullah (SW) said, “On the day of Qiyaamah Allah shall call a believer to draw near to Him. A curtain shall be drawn so that none may see. Allah shall then remind him of each and every fault of his which he shall be obliged to admit. Seeing the great amount of his faults, that person shall feel that he had indeed failed and shall perish. But then Allah say: “In the world did I cover your faults and today too do I hide them and forgive them for you”. Thereafter his book of good deeds shall be given to him.

The contents of this hadith are contained in so many other Ahaadith as well. One should therefore be careful of not humiliating and attacking the righteous ones for their faults, because it is possible that their faults are forgiven. It is also possible that we may be the real loser through backbiting and jeering at those who in their own manner seek to please Allah. It is possible that Allah may cover their faults and forgive them through the blessings of their other good deeds, while we who continue to backbite, scoff and jeer at them, may be the cause of our own destruction. (May Allah in His Mercy pardon us all).

This Hadith also states that the night before the day of Eid is called the night of prize giving, the night when Allah gives the true reward. This night too should be properly appreciated. It is also common that once the announcement has been made that tomorrow is Eid.

Majority of us even the pious, on this night enjoy ourselves in sleep, whereas this too is a night that should be spent in ‘ibaadah. Rasulullah (SW) said: “Whoever remains awake (for ‘ibaadah) on the nights preceding both ‘Eids with the aim of gaining reward, his heart shall not die on that day when hearts shall die”.

The meaning here is that at the time when evil will have taken possession of all, his heart shall stay alive (guarded against evil). It may also refer to the time when the bugle shall be blown to herald the day of Qiyaamah. On that day his soul shall not vecome unconscious.

Rasulullah (SW) is also reported to have said: “Whoever stays awake for ‘ibaadah on the following five nights, entrance into Jannah becomes waajib for him, Laylatul Tarawiyah: (the night preceding the eight of Zil Hijjah), Laylatul Arafah (the night preceding the ninth Zilhijjah), Laylatul Nahr (the night preceding Eid ul Fitr and the night preceding the 15th of Shabaan).

The jurists of Islam have written that it is mustahab to remain in ‘ibaadah on the nights preceding Eid. It is reported in Maathbata bis sunnah from Imaam Shaa-iy (RA) that there are five nights in which duaa’ s are accepted: The night preceding Friday, the night preceding both Eid, the first night of Rajab, and Laylatul Bara-a’h (15th of Shabaan).

Among the piour in Islaam, it is said that because of the exceptional greatness of Friday night, one should spend this night in ‘ibaadah during the month of Ramadhaan. But there are some Ahaadith wherein we have been prohibited from fixing only that night for ‘ibaadah, it is best that one or two other nights should be joined with it.

As we end this year’s Ramadan, I beg and implore all reader to make duaa’ for me, the humble writer of these pages, during those special hours of this month. It is possible that because of your duaa’ s Allah Ta-aa’la bestows His happiness and love upon me too, Aameen.